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Shows of the 1980s

60 shows from the 1980s. Includes Cosmos: A Personal Voyage, Dragon Ball Z, and Seinfeld.

Common vibes here: Alien Invasion · Aliens · Space Opera

List last changed November 10, 2026 · How scores work

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Cosmos: A Personal Voyage
91

Cosmos: A Personal Voyage

1980 · 1 Season

Documentary

Carl Sagan covers a wide range of scientific subjects, including the origin of life and a perspective of our place in the universe.

Dragon Ball Z
87

Dragon Ball Z

1989 · 9 Seasons

Alien InvasionMartial ArtsEpic Fantasy

Now happily married and with a son, martial arts champion Goku must defend Earth from a series of extraterrestrial invaders bent on destruction.

Das Boot
87

Das Boot

1985 · 1 Season

War DramaMilitaryDrama

Based on an autobiographical novel by German World War II photographer Lothar-Guenther Buchheim, Das Boot follows the lives of a fearless U-Boat…

Dekalog
87

Dekalog

1989 · 1 Season

Drama

The Ten Commandments, exact and uncompromising, literally cast in stone, continues to provide a source of moral conflict in contemporary society.

Seinfeld
86
Netflix

Seinfeld

1989 · 9 Seasons

Hollywood & ShowbizComedy

A stand-up comedian and his three offbeat friends weather the pitfalls and payoffs of life in New York City in the '90s.

Sherlock Holmes
86
Prime

Sherlock Holmes

1984 · 7 Seasons

ProceduralDetectiveCrime

Sherlock Holmes, along with his friend Dr.

The Storyteller
86
Prime

The Storyteller

1988 · 1 Season

ActionAdventureFamily

The Storyteller, aided by his cynical dog, narrates classic folk tales, fables, and legends.

Agatha Christie's Poirot
85
Hulu

Agatha Christie's Poirot

1989 · 13 Seasons

ProceduralDetectiveCrime

From England to Egypt, accompanied by his elegant and trustworthy sidekicks, the intelligent yet eccentrically-refined Belgian detective Hercule…

Robotech
85

Robotech

1985 · 3 Seasons

AnimationDramaScience Fiction

Robotech is an 85-episode adaptation of three different anime television series made between 1982-1984 in Japan; the adaptation was aired in 1985.

Yes Minister
85
Tubi

Yes Minister

1980 · 3 Seasons

PoliticalComedyWar

Satirical sitcom set in the office of a UK Cabinet minister, Jim Hacker MP, who struggles with Civil Service bureaucracy and political…

Grimm's Fairy Tale Classics
85

Grimm's Fairy Tale Classics

1987 · 2 Seasons

Urban FantasyMagicFamily

Grimm's Fairy Tale Classics is a Japanese animated anthology series by Nippon Animation.

Yes, Prime Minister
85
Tubi

Yes, Prime Minister

1986 · 2 Seasons

PoliticalComedyWar

James Hacker MP the Government's bumbling minister for Administrative Affairs is propelled along the corridors of power to the very pinnacle of…

The Simpsons
84
Disney+

The Simpsons

1989 · 38 Seasons

AnimationComedy

Set in Springfield, the average American town, the show focuses on the antics and everyday adventures of the Simpson family; Homer, Marge, Bart,…

Dragon Ball
84
Hulu

Dragon Ball

1986 · 1 Season

Military Sci-FiCreature FeatureMartial Arts

Young Goku sets off on a quest with his teenage friend Bulma to find the seven Dragon Balls, which grant whoever possesses them a single wish.

Saint Seiya
84

Saint Seiya

1986 · 1 Season

AnimeAnimationDrama

Ages ago, the goddess Athena was served by fighters called Saints who channeled the power of the Cosmos within them.

Lonesome Dove
84
Prime

Lonesome Dove

1989 · 1 Season

DramaWestern

A pair of longtime friends and former Texas Rangers crave one last adventure before hanging-up their spurs.

The Wonder Years
83
Hulu

The Wonder Years

1988 · 6 Seasons

Coming-of-AgeHigh SchoolComing of Age

The story of Kevin Arnold facing the trials and tribulations of youth while growing up during the 1960s and 70s.

Red Dwarf
83

Red Dwarf

1988 · 12 Seasons

Space OperaAlien InvasionSpace

The adventures of the last human alive and his friends, stranded three million years into deep space on the mining ship Red Dwarf.

Mystery Science Theater 3000
83
Peacock

Mystery Science Theater 3000

1989 · 10 Seasons

Space OperaAlien InvasionSpace

A stranded spaceship pilot captured by mad scientists survives a blitz of cheesy B movies by riffing on them with his funny robot pals.

Space Cobra
83

Space Cobra

1982 · 1 Season

Space OperaAnimeAction

Cobra lived an adventurous life until his enemies began to hunt him down.

Police Squad!
82

Police Squad!

1982 · 1 Season

ComedyCrime

In this cult parody of cop dramas, replete with farce and sight gags, Lieutenant Frank Drebin and his fellow officers from Police Squad bungle…

'Allo 'Allo!
82
Prime

'Allo 'Allo!

1984 · 9 Seasons

Dark ComedyWar DramaMilitary

The misadventures of hapless cafe owner René Artois and his escapades with the Resistance in occupied France.

Tour of Duty
82
Tubi

Tour of Duty

1987 · 3 Seasons

MilitaryWarDrama

The trials of a U.S.

Quantum Leap
81

Quantum Leap

1989 · 5 Seasons

Time-Travel Sci-FiTime TravelScience Fiction

Theorizing that one could time travel within his own lifetime, Dr.

Dungeons & Dragons
81

Dungeons & Dragons

1983 · 3 Seasons

Epic FantasyUrban FantasyMagic

Six friends are transported into the Dungeons & Dragons realm and must try to find a way home with the help of their guide 'Dungeon Master'.

The Young Ones
81

The Young Ones

1982 · 2 Seasons

Comedy

The misadventures of four lunatic students who live in a shared student house.

Married... with Children
80
Prime

Married... with Children

1987 · 11 Seasons

Comedy

Al Bundy is an unsuccessful middle aged shoe salesman with a miserable life and an equally dysfunctional family.

ThunderCats
80
Hulu

ThunderCats

1985 · 4 Seasons

Space OperaDystopian Sci-FiUrban Fantasy

The inhabitants of the planet Thundera evacuate just before it is destroyed.

Tales from the Crypt
80
Prime

Tales from the Crypt

1989 · 7 Seasons

Dark ComedySuperheroComedy

Cadaverous scream legend the Crypt Keeper is your macabre host for these forays of fright and fun based on the classic E.C.

Blackadder
80
Prime

Blackadder

1983 · 4 Seasons

Dark ComedyMilitaryComedy

Blackadder traces the deeply cynical and self-serving lineage of various Edmund Blackadders throughout British history, from the muck of the…

The Transformers
80
Tubi

The Transformers

1984 · 4 Seasons

Alien InvasionAliensAI & Robots

The Transformers is the first animated television series in the Transformers franchise.

The Golden Girls
80
Disney+

The Golden Girls

1985 · 7 Seasons

Comedy

Four Southern Florida seniors share a house, their dreams, and a whole lot of cheesecake.

Shōgun
80

Shōgun

1980 · 1 Season

ActionAdventureDrama

An English navigator becomes both a player and pawn in complex political games in feudal Japan.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
79
Paramount+

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

1987 · 10 Seasons

Martial ArtsSuperheroAction

Four turtles fall into the sewers and are befriended by Hamato Yoshi a Japanese man sent to New York who was forced to live in the sewers.

Captain Tsubasa
79

Captain Tsubasa

1983 · 5 Seasons

AnimeComedyDrama

Tsubasa Ozora loves playing football since he was a little child.

DuckTales
79
Disney+

DuckTales

1987 · 4 Seasons

AnimationMysteryScience Fiction

Scrooge McDuck finds his hands full at home when nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie move to Duckburg.

Cheers
79
Hulu

Cheers

1982 · 11 Seasons

Comedy

The story about a blue-collar Boston bar run by former sports star Sam Malone and the quirky and wonderful people who worked and drank there.

Mobile Cop Jiban
79

Mobile Cop Jiban

1989 · 1 Season

SuperheroDetectiveAI & Robots

Naoto detective Jiban fights for justice against Bioron and his evil plans to conquer the world.

North and South
79

North and South

1985 · 3 Seasons

DramaWar

The story of the enduring friendship between Orry Main of South Carolina and George Hazard of Pennsylvania, who become best friends while…

The Twilight Zone
77

The Twilight Zone

1985 · 3 Seasons

Science FictionFantasyDrama

This 1980s revival of the classic sci-fi series features a similar style to the original anthology series.

V
76

V

1983 · 1 Season

Space OperaAlien InvasionSpace

Planet Earth is visited by an alien race.

MacGyver
76
Paramount+

MacGyver

1985 · 7 Seasons

Spy / EspionageEspionageDrama

He's everyone's favorite action hero...

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
76
Prime

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe

1983 · 2 Seasons

Epic FantasyUrban FantasyMagic

When Adam, Prince of the planet Eternia, raises his magic sword he transforms into He-Man (the most powerful man in the universe).

Moonlighting
76
Prime

Moonlighting

1985 · 5 Seasons

Romantic ComedyProceduralNeo-Noir & Film Noir

After being duped and going bankrupt, model Maddie is convinced by David to become a partner in a detective agency.

SilverHawks
76
Tubi

SilverHawks

1986 · 1 Season

Space OperaAlien InvasionAI & Robots

Bionic policemen fight an escaped alien mob boss and his gang in space.

The Real Ghostbusters
76
Tubi

The Real Ghostbusters

1986 · 7 Seasons

SupernaturalActionAdventure

The continuing adventures of paranormal investigators Dr.

ALF
75
Prime

ALF

1986 · 4 Seasons

Space OperaAlien InvasionAliens

A furry alien wiseguy comes to live with a terran family after crashing into their garage.

The A-Team
75
Tubi

The A-Team

1983 · 5 Seasons

ActionAdventureComedy

A fictional group of ex-United States Army Special Forces personnel work as soldiers of fortune while on the run from the Army after being branded…

Chip 'n' Dale Rescue Rangers
75
Disney+

Chip 'n' Dale Rescue Rangers

1989 · 3 Seasons

AnimationComedyFamily

Chip and Dale head a small, eccentric group of animal characters who monitor not only the human world, but the animal community as well, solving…

Miami Vice
75
Tubi

Miami Vice

1984 · 5 Seasons

ProceduralCrimeDrama

The story of the Miami Police Department's vice squad and its efforts to end drug trafficking and prostitution, centered on the unlikely…

Murder, She Wrote
74

Murder, She Wrote

1984 · 12 Seasons

ProceduralDetectiveMystery

An unassuming mystery writer turned sleuth uses her professional insight to help solve real-life homicide cases.

Magnum, P.I.
74

Magnum, P.I.

1980 · 8 Seasons

ProceduralCrimeDrama

A private investigator who works when he wants, lives in a beachfront estate in Hawaii, drives a posh Ferrari, runs up an unlimited tab at a swank…

Saved by the Bell
73

Saved by the Bell

1989 · 4 Seasons

Romantic ComedyHigh SchoolFamily

Lovable schemer Zack Morris leads his pals on adventures at California's Bayside High School.

The Cosby Show
73

The Cosby Show

1984 · 8 Seasons

ComedyFamily

The Cosby Show is an American television situation comedy starring Bill Cosby, which aired for eight seasons on NBC from September 20, 1984 until…

Knight Rider
71
Tubi

Knight Rider

1982 · 4 Seasons

ActionAdventureScience Fiction

Michael Long, an undercover police officer, is shot while investigating a case and left for dead by his assailants.

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